For someone who plays like they are up against the clock, Facundo Pellistri has shown an impressive degree of patience at Manchester United.
The winger finally made his first appearance for the club a month ago, coming on in the closing stages of the Carabao Cup win against Charlton. He had waited two years, five months and three days for a debut, playing for his country before his club, but after 10 minutes at Old Trafford the overriding emotion from supporters was why he hadn't been glimpsed more often.
Pellistri was a direct runner against the Addicks and he created a goal for Marcus Rashford in the 3-0 win. Since then he'd had cameos against Nottingham Forest and Reading, but on Wednesday night came another first, a Premier League debut.
READ MORE: United might have to consider radical solution to Casemiro problem
Erik ten Hag turned to the 21-year-old with just over half an hour to go against Leeds and his impact was immediate. He didn't get the assist for Rashford's goal, but it was his work to keep the ball alive that allowed Diogo Dalot to swing the cross in.
Jadon Sancho arrived alongside Pellistri and the balance of United's attack tilted. Rashford moved through the middle and Pellistri went on to the right wing.
"It's difficult to analyse but I think after we make that change it's different for the opponent," Ten Hag said. "It's difficult for the opponent because the dynamic changes. The defenders are in a certain way, they are anticipating a certain attack and then all of a sudden everything is changing.
"When we moved there, not only Rashford but we bring in Sancho and we bring in Pellistri. And that changes the game, as we did on Saturday as well. And we benefit from that situation, I think."
Changing the dynamic of the attack is something Ten Hag has spoken about in recent weeks. He used the same description when he discussed moving Bruno Fernandes to the right to replace Antony, changing the equation for a full-back from a winger to more of a midfielder.
Pellistri could offer a similar function. With Antony the first-choice right-winger there is certainly potential for Pellistri to be the next in line. He looks to have jumped the queue ahead of Anthony Elanga already.
Antony and Pellistri might both be right-wingers, but they are very different players. The former likes to cut inside onto his left foot, he isn't particularly direct when taking his man on and his game can often be about combinations.
If defences have settled into that rhythm then Pellistri, 21, could be the player to disrupt it. In a squad full of inverted wingers he is a throwback, a right-footed right-winger who dribbles at defenders. That directness can create chances, just as did when he came on against Charlton for that first appearance.
Leading into January there was a thought United might look to cash in on the winger. He looked bright for Uruguay during the World Cup and despite not playing for his club, his value had probably gone up from the €10million United paid for him in October 2020.
He was a player United had tracked for three years, watching him play for Penarol in the Uruguayan league and in Copa Libertadores matches. He had attracted the attention of Real Madrid, Juventus and Atletico Madrid.
He signed in the same window as Amad but the highly-rated right-wingers didn't immediately look like value for money. Now, Pellistri is beginning to find his feet at United and Amad is flying at Sunderland.
For the rest of this season, Pellistri is looking like an option for Ten Hag, a Plan B in the front three, as he proved against Leeds. When Amad returns in the summer the competition for places will go up again, but at the very least he is putting himself in the shop window and looking like the kind of talent United thought they had signed.
READ NEXT:
